Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa: Gunners stunned in title race as goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins give Unai Emery’s side deserved win at Emirates

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa seriously dented Arsenal’s Premier League title bid as two late goals earned them a deserved 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.

In another twist in the run-in, the Gunners were well beaten as Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins struck within three minutes of each other to beat the home fans.

Liverpool had lost at Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday and a fifth league defeat of the campaign for Arsenal leaves Mikel Arteta’s side in second place – two points behind reigning champions Manchester City.

Villa were brilliant in a second half they dominated and their superiority eventually paid off when substitute Bailey tapped home at the back post before Watkins took advantage of Arsenal’s high line to break through on goal and finish with aplomb.

This was former Arsenal boss Emery’s first trip back here with Villa and it was one he would have relished as the Spaniard danced up the touchline as Bailey broke the deadlock.

Leon Bailey put the visitors ahead after 84 minutes when the winger sent an open goal

It sent the outfielder at the Emirates into bedlam after a hugely impressive performance

Ollie Watkins made it 2-0 to Villa soon after when he lobbed David Raya with a superb finish

Sandwiched between both legs of a Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich, this Villa match was always going to be a test for Arsenal and it was one they failed.

Kai Havertz forced Emiliano Martinez into a low save early on before both Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka saw efforts hit the side netting.

Gabriel Magalhaes has been a rock at the back for Arsenal this season, but he gave possession to Watkins, who almost took full advantage only to see his shot come back off the inside of the post.

Arsenal went straight down the other end and almost took the lead themselves, only for ex-Gunner Martinez to make a superb reflex save to keep out a Leandro Trossard effort.

Saka then curled a shot inches wide as Arsenal could not find a way through to relieve some of the pressure around the Emirates.

The teams were level at half-time, but Villa were the much better outfit after the break, limiting the hosts to just four shots in the second half.

With his side on top, Emery turned to his bench and introduced Bailey in place of Moussa Diaby, although it was Youri Tielemans who came close moments later.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was caught in possession on the edge of his own area, with Tielemans robbing the ball and hitting both crossbar and post with a fierce drive.

Arteta replaced Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Jesus as he looked to freshen things up, but in the closing stages it was Champions League-chasing Villa who would push for the three points their performance deserved.

It was a disastrous result for Arsenal, who have lost control of the Premier League title

The Gunners were off-colour for large parts of the game at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon

Unai Emery was delighted with his side’s display as he got one over on his former club

Emiliano Martinez made a great save from Leandro Trossard

But Ollie Watkins also hit the outside of the post as his effort trickled over the goal line

Bailey was in the right place at the right time as Lucas Digne’s low cross eluded everyone and landed at the back post where Bailey swept home into an empty net.

Arsenal responded by moving further up the pitch but it was to prove their undoing as a long ball over the top was run onto by Watkins who broke from his own half to collect, hold Emile Smith Rowe and clip a wonderful finish over David Raya.

While the result could have a massive impact on the Premier League title destination, it also improves fourth-placed Villa’s hopes of Champions League qualification as they now move three points clear of Tottenham.

Youri Tielemans then beat David Raya, but the midfielder’s shot hit both the crossbar and the post

It was frustration for Mikel Arteta as his side struggled to deal with Villa’s second-half display

Villa leapfrog Tottenham and move up to fourth as they completed the double over Arsenal